There’s a new reason for families to linger a little longer by Coate Water—and it doesn’t involve the usual walk around the lake.
A freshly opened, space-themed play area has landed at The Sun Inn, following a £90,000 investment by Arkell’s Brewery. Built in partnership with Harlequin Group, the upgrade turns a familiar pub stop into something more of a destination for families.
The new setup leans fully into its theme. There’s a multi-play unit for older children designed with a space motif, alongside a smaller structure for younger ones, plus swings, a play trail and sensory panels. Underfoot, the whole area has been resurfaced in bright blue safety flooring—more playground than beer garden now.
It’s a noticeable shift for a pub that has long traded on its location near Coate Water Country Park. With spring and summer on the way, the timing feels deliberate.
Arkell’s, one of Swindon’s longest-standing businesses, has framed the project as both an investment in the pub and the wider community. Bringing in a local firm to deliver the work adds to that, with Harlequin Group handling the design and installation.
George Arkell, Managing Director of the brewery, said the aim was to create a modern, safe space that complements the pub’s family-friendly reputation. For Harlequin’s Nikola Andrews, there’s also a personal angle—designing something that local families, including their own, will actually use.
The result is a compact but varied play area that tries to cover all bases. Toddlers, older children and those somewhere in between all have something to climb on, swing from or explore.
It may not transform Coate Water overnight, but it does add another layer to what’s already one of Swindon’s go-to outdoor spots. And for parents weighing up where to stop after a walk, that combination—food, space to sit, and somewhere to let the kids burn off energy—tends to settle the question quickly.
